Seemingly Stupid Question

[Aldebaran]

Hi,
My question is a seemingly stupid one. I am learning about the proper supplementation regime from all you fine chameleon folk and I would like to know why is it that chameleons require *daily* calcium? I understand why we give ‘extra’ calcium for the PO4 balance but what’s the diff in nature?

 

[AnamCara]

Hi,
My question is a seemingly stupid one. I am learning about the proper supplementation regime from all you fine chameleon folk and I would like to know why is it that chameleons require *daily* calcium? I understand why we give ‘extra’ calcium for the PO4 balance but what’s the diff in nature?

It's the calcium AND d3. In the wild chameleons will eat a greater variety of food as well as (occasionally) vertebrates--other small lizards. (Not all, but big ones.) They also have natural sunlight. We supplement to make up for those things. I'd also venture to guess chameleons live much longer in captivity.

This is also species specific. Jacksons and Montana species require less d3 supplement (I believe)

10.0 or 12% lights are more powerful than 6% or 5.0. I believe I have heard of a keeper using a 10.0 light and not supplementing d3. (Or maybe LoD once a month).

Many yemen and panther chameleon keepers here use Repashy Calcium Plus LoD on all feeders. I do not put it on random treats or BSFL.

 

[Jammoos]

Think of it like how we take daily vitamins (or if you don't, think of it like how we all need a daily dosage of certain things to stay healthy and alive) Chameleons have more variety of food in the wild, and wild bugs have their own wider variety of food. We supplement to make sure they get what they need to be of optimal health

 

[Aldebaran]

Wow. What nice answers. Thank you. It just seems excessive to me for some reason. A human also requires calcium but if taken too much it builds up in the kidneys and behold the kidney stone. Thank you again

 

[AnamCara]

Wow. What nice answers. Thank you. It just seems excessive to me for some reason. A human also requires calcium but if taken too much it builds up in the kidneys and behold the kidney stone. Thank you again

Same with animals. You want a light dusting and not a dump of powder. And we are, technically, living in our natural environment. They are living in a simulation.

 

[Aldebaran]

Are we really? I think we are living a simulation says my cheese whiz. Just kidding.
Is there a possibility of overdoing it on calcium?

 

[AnamCara]

Are we really? I think we are living a simulation says my cheese whiz. Just kidding.
Is there a possibility of overdoing it on calcium?

Yes. It is technically possible to overdose on anything. Especially species specific. And what condition you keep your chameleon in. Outside? Sometimes? Never? How strong of a light? How big of an enclosure? Proper gradients?

The traditional schedule most keepers of Yemen and panther chameleons have kept is:

Phos free calcium at ever feeding. Twice a month calcium with d3 (every other week) and a multivitamin twice a month (every other other week.) As mentioned above many gave switched to Repashy Calcium Plus LoD at every feeding.

 

[Aldebaran]

Yes, I think to go with what works for the majority of the experienced is what is best. Thank you for your replies. I think the regime you mentioned is well balanced.

 

[Aldebaran]

But I would not do the everyday thing that was mentioned about repashy.

 

[AnamCara]

But I would not do the everyday thing that was mentioned about repashy.

To each their own.

 

[Aldebaran]

It may very well be the way to go but let see what time tells.

 

[kinyonga]

@Aldebaran ...some of the insects we use as feeders have a poor ratio of calcium to phos...so we dust lightly with calcium to adjust it. In the wild they eat different insects so they get a different balance of nutrients. In the wild the insects eat different things than we feed them in captivity too.

This might help...
http://www.chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html

 

[Aldebaran]

@kinyonga. Yes! That’s a brilliant answer. That makes perfect sense for insects that may eat other insects therefore have a more abundant calcium content. Thank you

 

[kinyonga]

You're welcome.

 

[Aldebaran]

Fabulous article

 

[Lennoncham]

I believe I have heard that they may also get calcium from the natural dust and rain water they lick off leaves in the wild.

 

[JacksJill]

All of the above.
Chameleons getting natural sunlight make better use of the calcium they find in their diet. They don't eat the same ratio of insects with poor calcium phosphorus balance like crickets that are fed in captivity. There is a calcium content to the dust on the leaves in places like Kenya. Their life expectancy in the wild may only be a couple years and in captivity they can live 3 times that or more.
Too much calcium can cause sluggish bowels and constipation. Too much oral D3 can lead to a host of problems. Very light dusting is the key what ever schedule you use.

 

[Aldebaran]

Very interesting and tangible information. Thank you for sharing.